Kigali, Rwanda, 2 December 2019 – The Africa Prosecutors Association (APA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Egypt, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen partnership between the two organizations on issues of mutual interest, particularly related to enhancing capacities to combat smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons.

The agreement will give the framework for enhanced cooperation and joint initiatives between the two organizations, with focus on enhancing technical capacities and cross-border cooperation, knowledge sharing and exchange of best practices in the fight against smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons. 

The Africa Prosecutors Association (APA), a non-profit organization whose members are the public prosecution authorities in African member States, with a mandate to enhance cooperation among African public prosecution authorities including on combatting organized crimes. IOM as the leading intergovernmental UN Migration Agency provides technical support to its member states in enhancing capacities to combat smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons, while ensuring protection of vulnerable migrants.

The specific joint actions planned to be initiated under the framework of the MoU can include 1) development of harmonized regional training curricula on combating smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons; 2) organization of regional participatory knowledge sharing trainings tailored on the identified needs  and aimed at enhancing the knowledge and capabilities of judicial authorities of African countries that would be fundamental to devise or update national legislative frameworks and to strengthen the implementation of laws; 3) provide technical support to the APA for its online knowledge management platform.

“Today marks an important day in formalizing the excellent partnership between our two organizations and I am confident this will lead to a consolidated partnership in the fight against smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons with a focus on protection of vulnerable migrants” said Laurent De Boeck, IOM Egypt Chief of Mission.

The MoU was signed at the 14^th Africa Prosecutors Association conference and annual general meeting in Kigali, Rwanda by Counsellor Hamada Elsawy, Prosecutor General of Egypt in his capacity as the President of APA and Mr. Laurent De Boeck, IOM Egypt Chief of Mission. The signing ceremony was attended by the members of the Executive and Strategic Committees and other distinguished guests representing APA member states. 

For more information, please contact Wigdan Mohamad at IOM Egypt, Tel: + 20 10 12428527 Email: wimohamad@iom.int